Document 2107 PDF

DAMAGE TO THE SOUL:
SYRIAS CULTURAL
HERITAGE IN
CONFLICT
16 MAY 2012
Emma Cunliffe, Durham University, and

Damage to the heritage of the country
is damage to the soul of its people and its identity
Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO2
As the focus of this report is the cultural heritage of Syria, the massive loss
of human life during the conflict is not mentioned in the body of the report.
However, this heritage was built by the ancestors of those who have gone,
and those who remain. It is remembered by them, and cared for by them,
to be Patrimoine Syriensed on to their descendants and to the world.
History starts and ends with memory, and the Patrimoine Syrient is carried
in the shared memory of the present. One cannot exist without the other. I
feel the only place to start this report is to express our deep sadness at the
loss of life, our sympathy to those who have suffered, and extend our
sincerest condolences to all those who have lost friends and loved ones.
With thanks to the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Trevelyan Collage Durham
University, and the Global Heritage Fund Fellowship
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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 4
Background ................................................................................................................................................. 4
Information Sources and Copyright.................................................................................................... 5
Section 1: The Direct and Indirect Effects of Damage from the Conflict........................................... 6
Shell Damage .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Gunfire..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Army Occupation................................................................................................................................... 8
Terrorism ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Looting................................................................................................................................................... 10
Uncontrolled / Illegal Construction and Demolition ..................................................................... 18
Other Damage ...................................................................................................................................... 19
Section 2: Damaged Sites ....................................................................................................................... 20

World Heritage Site - Ancient Villages of Northern Syria ............................................................. 20
Tentative World Heritage Site: Apamea and the citadel of Qalat al-Mudiq ............................. 26
World Heritage Site: Bosra ................................................................................................................ 32
World Heritage Site: Crac des Chevaliers (alt. Qal al-Hosn) ....................................................... 33
World Heritage Sites: Damascus and Aleppo.................................................................................. 34
Tentative World Heritage Site (and Rest of City): Hama ............................................................... 35
Homs ...................................................................................................................................................... 36
World Heritage Site: Palmyra ............................................................................................................ 38
National Heritage Site: Qalat al-Shmemis (alt. Selemiye, Salamyeh).......................................... 39
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 41
Appendix A Leaked Memo regarding Looting ................................................................................ 43
Appendix B Details of Stolen Statue .................................................................................................. 44
Appendix C - Notes, Image Accreditations, and Copyright.............................................................. 47
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Introduction
Following various media reports of damage, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO,

expressed grave concern about possible damage to precious sites3 and called for their
protection. In the wake of the fragile ceasefire, cultural heritage experts and organisations are
now beginning taking stock of the damage. Concerned citizens within the country, expatriates
and heritage organisations are monitoring the damage as best they can and sending as much
information as possible to the outside world. This report represents a summary of the available
information.
Background
Syrias cultural heritage is rich and complex, dating back millennia. Home to a succession of
empires, Syria claims some of the earliest cities in human history, if not the earliest. Numerous
Bronze Age civilisations left their successive marks, including the Babylonians, the Assyrians,
and the Hittites, to name but a few. They in turn were replaced by the Greeks, the Sassanians,
the Persians, the Romans and the Arabs, many of whom chose Syrian cities as their capitals.
The European Crusaders came and left some of the most impressive castles known, and the
Ottoman Empire also made its mark. All these cultures co-existed and conflicted, forming
something new and special found no-where else in the world.
Today Syria has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most recent of which was inscribed only
last summer: Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, Bosra, the Crac des Chevaliers and Saladins Castle,
and the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria. These sites alone represent at least two thousand
years of history. Many more are on the Tentative inscription list for future consideration, and
the list of national heritage sites is also impressive. The main authority responsible for the
maintenance and preservation of archaeological heritage in Syria is the Directorate General of
Antiquities and Museums (Damascus) and their regional departments. Throughout its
existence, the DGAM has played a major role in safeguarding this heritage, but on 15 March
2011, the Arab Spring sweeping the Middle East reached Syria, plunging her into on-going
civil unrest which affected the land, the people, and the history of the country. As a result, the
task of the DGAM has become increasingly difficult as the conflict has widened, and access to
many sites has become challenging, if not impossible. Known access problems have been
caused by armed men4 and blockades5, although there will doubtless have been others.
The reported damage to the sites takes multiple forms: as well as direct shelling damage from
the conflict, some sites are simply suffering collateral damage. Other sites are hit by gunfire, or
are damaged by the movements of tanks or bulldozers entrenching positions. In addition to the
direct damage, the breakdown in security has led to increased looting, of which numerous
reports are beginning to circulate. Some looting is opportunistic: the conflict has left sites
unguarded, providing easy access, but other reports suggest some thefts are planned. Further
side effects of the conflict include the increase of domestic threats, such as illegal developments
onto archaeological sites. However, the scale of this problem during conflict is extremely hard
to quantify, and so can be given only limited detail in this report.
Instead, this report details the damage sites are known to have experienced during the conflict.
Each type of damage may require a different remedy, and without knowing the cause of the
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damage, neither preventative nor conservative methods can be implemented. This report is
therefore split into two sections. The first deals with damage by type, and presents a summary
of the damage being caused across Syria. If all that is known about damage to a site is that brief
summary, the source of the information is given there. However, some sites are being heavily
damaged by multiple causes, each of which could require a different remedy, and separating
out the full extent of damage to the site may be impossible. If enough information is available, a
short discussion of the damage to individual sites is made separately, and full references
provided there.
Information Sources and Copyright

The damage to Syrias cultural heritage is gathering increasing attention. This report represents
a collation of available information as of 16 May 2012, and is based on a wide range of sources,
external to the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, many of which are unofficial
and/or unverifiable. Whilst this report is not based on official DGAM sources, we hope that it
may contribute to the overall knowledge base on the damage to cultural and archaeological
heritage, and testify to the difficulties faced by heritage experts within Syria.
Major sources of information include the following websites and organisations. Of particular
note is a Facebook group - Le patrimoine archologique syrien en danger6 (Patrimoine Syrien) who
share information, collate videos of the damage to the sites, and work to raise awareness of the
issues. Other groups include the Global Heritage Fund7 and Global Heritage Network8, the
Archaeological Institute of America Site Preservation Program9, Looted Heritage10, Culture in
Development11, and various international media reports, including the Syrian Arab News
Agency, and other Arabic news networks, as well as blogs by interested parties.
All data sources are listed at the end of the report, along with appropriate copyright accreditations.
Unless otherwise stated when referenced, all YouTube videos were shared through Patrimoine Syrien,
who should be appropriately credited.
Whilst every attempt has been made to keep the information in this report as current as
possible, the situation in Syria is not yet stable, and further changes will certainly occur.
Transliteration of place and site names is based on the sources used. If any mistakes are present in the
transliteration of the names, this is entirely my own mistake, not the Global Heritage Fund, and I offer
my apologies.
Warning: Many of the videos linked to in this report contain mild oaths. No offence is intended in the
sharing of these videos, only the dissemination of the knowledge visible in them, for the better protection
of Syrias heritage.
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Section 1:
The Direct and Indirect Effects of Damage from the Conflict
Shell Damage
The most obvious damage to sites from the conflict, which has gathered the most media
attention, is the shelling of the sites. Shell fire destroys the original fabric of the buildings, and
if repeated often enough and for long enough, the site is destroyed.
Shelling damage has been reported at three World Heritage Sites, a Tentative World Heritage
Site, and several national heritage sites. It is also extremely likely to have affected at least one
more Tentative World Heritage Site, and it is possible (although unlikely) two other World
Heritage Sites are affected. There will also inevitably be other as-yet-unknown sites damaged in
the conflict.
Sites known to have been affected by the shelling are:

World Heritage Site (parts of the) Archaeological Villages of Northern Syria, in
particular al-Bara, Deir Sunbel, An Larose (see Section 2: p20).
World Heritage Site Bosra (see Section 2: p32).
World Heritage Site - Crac des Chevaliers (see Section 2: p33).
Tentative World Heritage Site Apamea and the citadel of Qalat al-Mudiq. Also the
town surrounding the citadel, which is known to date from at least the 16th century.
Damage has been confirmed at the 16th century Mosque al-Tawhid, and is suspected at
the Islamic caravanserai which forms the museum 12 (see Section 2: p26).
Tell Sheikh Hamad (Dur Katlimmu) Assyrian temple collapsed after shell fire13 and the
site was transformed into a battlefield between deserters and army14.
Mosque of Idlib Sermin (Fatimid era) 15.
Mosque of al-Tekkiyeh Ariha 16- minaret destroyed.
Al-Qusaayr Great Mosque 17 and Mar Elias monastery 18 damaged.
Mosque al-Herak in the Daraa region 19 .
Oldest mosque in city of Sermin 20.
Our Lady of Seydnaya Monastery Earliest part of monastery dates to early Christian
era (circa 547AD) - shell through back wall21.
Tomb of the Sheikh Dahur al-Muhammad in Rityan, in Aleppo province22.
Large parts of Homs22, including the ancient citadel (see Section 2: p35).
Large parts of Hama23, including the ancient citadel (see Section 2: p35).
(Unspecified) sites and monuments of the province of Der'a, especially in the cities of
Inkhil, Da'il, and Dar al-Balad22.
Mosque al-Umary 24 (alt. al-Omari, al-Umeri) in Daara (which was built during the
Islamic conquest of Syria, and is one of the oldest Islamic monuments).
Sites probably affected by the shelling are:

Tentative World Heritage Site Norias of Hama. As a centre of the unrest, Hama is
known to have been heavily shelled. The status of the Norias is unknown, although
other historic buildings are known to have been affected (see Section 2: p35).
Shell fire and explosions have been reported in the suburbs of Damascus and Aleppo,
respectively. It is possible that the World Heritage Sites at the centre of these cities
could have been damaged in the conflict, but given the reports appear in relation to
specific locations, it is unlikely (see Section 2: p34).
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The al-Omari Mosque in Dara is one of the most important early Islamic monuments as it still
retains the architectural detail and structure of the first mosques built in the days of the Islamic
Caliph Umar ibn Al-Khattab25. According to the news report, the facing, which was original,
was severely damaged by shelling, causing the columns to collapse.
Concern was also expressed by Patrimoine Syrien for several museums26, which may have
become collateral damage when the cities were shelled. The al-Numan Maaret museum is
located in a square where rallies have been held, and the city is known to have been shelled.
The Museum of Idlib holds the Ebla archives, which date back to the third millennium BC and
provide vital information on some of humanities earliest cities. Idlib has also been affected by
the heavy shelling.
Gunfire
Gunfire has been reported at numerous sites, including the World Heritage Site of Palmyra27.
An escaped resident told the Agence France-Presse28.
Machine gun fire rains down from the citadel at anything that moves in the
ruins because they think it is rebels.
Many of the videos uploaded and shared through Patrimoine Syrien show damage attributed to
shell fire, but some of these bear more resemblance to damage from bullets, such as at Deir
Sunbel (
Figure 9: Shelling damage at Deir Sunbel), so it is possible that the incidences of damage by
shell fire are lower than thought, and damage by gunfire higher.
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However, it can be expected that gunfire will have occurred in any of the cities where unrest
has been reported and where the army has clashed with those opposing the President, such as
in the suburbs of Damascus, Homs or Hama. It is particularly notable in the case of Palmyra, or
Deir Sunbel, as the ancient ruins are apart from the modern town, so both choosing to use them
for cover and the inevitably resulting gunfire are deliberate choices.
Army Occupation
As already known from sites like Ur29 in Iraq, army occupation can cause large amounts of
damage. There is the development of the infrastructure necessary to support a large number of
armed forces; the movement of tanks over potentially fragile sites; bulk removal of stones or
materials for construction; the often ignorant damage caused by troops seeking souvenirs or
looking something for target practice; and the simple fact that the presence of the army in a
conflict situation focusses the location of any potential conflict.
The presence of armed forces in major urban centres such as al-Hassekeh, Aleppo, Damascus,
Homs and Hama has been well covered in the media. Many of these cities have historic
buildings which may well have been damaged, but reports have not been received. Therefore
this list will focus specifically on archaeological sites and heritage for which evidence (credible
or unverified) is available:
Tentative World Heritage Site - Apamea and the citadel of Qalat al-Mudiq 30. Also the
town surrounding the citadel, which is known to date from at least the 16th century.
Bulldozers, which reportedly belong to the Syrian army, have also been recorded
digging into the citadel mound, perhaps to create better positions for the tanks 31 (see
Section 2: p26).
World Heritage Site Bosra. A video shared by Patrimoine Syrien apparently refers to
tanks destroying the ancient city 32 (see Section 2: p32).
National Heritage Site- Tell Rifai. Patrimoine Syrien reported on 24 March 2012 that
after a peaceful protest on 10 Nov 2011 33, Tell Rifai was heavily damaged by soldiers
using it as a military camp.
National Heritage Site- Salamyeh, Chteau de Chmmis. Patrimoine Syrien shared
videos 34 showing tanks near the base of the citadel. A statement on their webpage (25
March 2012), apparently from local citizens, also reported shelters were being dug for
tanks at the bottom of the citadel (see Section 2: p39)
National Heritage Sites - Khan Sheikhoun (Video of military operation on the
archaeological tell of the city, at the top of which are stationed tanks and heavy
weapons) 35; A statement on Patrimoine Syrien website alledges when the army moved
onto the site excavations were performed in the slopes of the tell as shelter for tanks and
several army tanks took position on this site 36.
National Heritage Site - Tell Afis - the army camped at the bottom of the site 37.
National Heritage Site Tell Azaz (currently unexcavated Bronze Age site). A video38
shows a military operation at the base of the site, and heavy weaponry has been
installed 39.
Rock shelters at Kafr Nubbel (alt. Kafr Nabo), located in the Ancient Villages World
Heritage Site in Archaeological Park 2, were apparently damaged by the Syrian army in
their search for deserters 40.
Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi armed soldiers entered the monastery looking for weapons,
(or possibly one of the priests)41. Some damage may have been caused to the site, the
foundations of which are mentioned for the first time in a Syriac manuscript dated 575,
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as a Roman stronghold, before being transformed into a monastery. The remains found
in the present monastery dates back to eleventh and twelfth centuries.
Qal Markab (Banyas) 42 tanks and heavy weaponry installed in the citadel.
Tell Nebi Mend43 (where the historic battle of Kadesh occurred) heavy weapons
positioned on the tell overlooking the village.
The remains of Homs Qal 44 tanks and heavy weaponry installed in the citadel.
The remains of Qal Hama 45 tanks and heavy weaponry installed in the citadel
Patrimoine Syrien also suggest 46 that several archaeological sites are transformed for
use in the battlefield, in particular the Dead Cities between Aleppo and Idlib, but also
several historical monuments, such as the citadels of Bozra, Hama and Homs and
especially Qal Al-Hosn (Crac des Chevaliers). Allegedly, deserters who take refuge in
these places are bombed and pursued.
One news report suggests that entire historic neighbourhoods in Hama, Aleppo and Latakia
have been bulldozed, although this has not been verified47. Patrimoine Syrien48 have also
alleged that the police and army are implementing a strategy of intimidation designed to scare
people by targeting the historic buildings, including at Al-Bara, Sergilla, Bosra, Homs and
Hama.
Figure 1: Damaged rock shelter, Kafr Nubbel49
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Figure 2: Sniper on ruins in Ancient Villages (possibly Jabal Zawiya)50
Listed so far are the obvious, direct effects of damage in conflict. The following sections deal
with the indirect effects, those resulting from the ensuing breakdown in security.
Terrorism
Several car bombs and suicide bombs have been reported in Damascus and Aleppo 51. Most
were aimed at military or security targets, or were in the city suburbs, but some have been in
residential areas, and collateral damage is known to have included at least one park where
children were playing. No-one has claimed responsibility for the explosions, and in most cases,
both sides of the conflict have blamed the other. Other incidents include the bombing of trains
carrying fuel, vehicles carrying diesel oil and explosions targeting the police, members of the
media and fuel pipelines 52.
Although no historic sites were reported damaged in the explosions, both cities have a long
history and include many ancient buildings. The possibility of collateral damage cannot be
ruled out.
Looting
The problem of looting in conflict situations has gained increasing attention from professionals
and the media. Organisations who monitor the problem all report an increasing trend across
the globe (sample references 53-52). Many incidences of looting are opportunistic, but just as many
others are planned raids carried out at the behest of unknown buyers54. In some countries, the
laws are inadequate, and protect the buyer, with a dont ask, dont tell attitude to provenance.
The onus is usually on the country to prove what was taken, but when many sites have not yet
been excavated, all authorities are left with is a hole and no idea of what has been removed55.
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The looting in Iraq during and after the conflicts was well documented 56. In particular, the
looting after the second conflict in 2003 made media headlines 57: sites and museums were
extensively looted 58, and many looters were well organised, with access to the resources and
firearms to outmatch the officials of the Department of Antiquities who tried to stop them. In
some cases, it was a way of dealing with the poverty created by the economic sanctions after the
first gulf war; in others a way to deal with farmland that was drying out as a result of
disruption to irrigation canals, and for others it was simply easy money59. As the conflict in
Syria has worsened, people began to wonder if the same would happen.
Looting in Syria carries a harsh penalty a 15 year jail sentence as authorities try to protect
their heritage. A leaked government memo shared on Patrimoine Syrien (Appendix A
Leaked Memo regarding Looting) suggested it was a problem the authorities were aware of and
that steps were being taken to remedy it. The memo stated that armed gangs were operating in
Syria, eyeing up the antiquities, and that protection would be required for the sites. However, it
was not until earlier this year that the memo gathered some media attention, in an Arabic
paper, and then internationally60.
An approximate translation61 is:
Attention: Mr. Minister of Communications and Technology

The Minister of Culture
The Minister of Finance
The Governor of the Central Bank Syria
We received the following information:

"Groups of criminals intend to enter Syria. They have already brought into
the country of high technology tools and equipment of satellite
communication to communicate with their accomplices. These criminals
are specialized in the theft of manuscripts and antiquities, in the looting of
museums, chests and banks. This network has operated in Iraq and
Libya. Its objective is attacking banks and post offices in the coming days. "
Please strengthen security measures by installing new security doors, alarm

systems and surveillance cameras are not visible, ensuring increased
surveillance of buildings and prposant this task your best. Please let
us know by reply actions you have taken.
Damascus on 07/07/2011
Mr. Prime Minister

Dr. Adel Safar
An anonymous statement published on Patrimoine Syrien 62 suggested the Syrian authorities

had transferred objects from the Aleppo Museum to a safe place, a wise precaution which
protected many of Iraqs most valuable antiquities. This was later confirmed by Sakhel,
Director of Museums in Syria, in an interviewed in April: authorities had started removing
precious objects from Museums to protect them from thieves or destruction and a plan was
underway to place them at the Central Bank 63. However, whether this was done in September
2011, as suggested on Patrimoine Syrien, or whether it was a response to the looting which then
occurred is unknown.
Over the last nine months, and with increasing frequency, reports are circulating of looting in
the Museums and archaeological sites. In the interview, Sakhel said 64:
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Syria has not been fully searched by archaeologists so wherever you dig you
make a findI believe those doing the looting are locals drawn by profit and
who care little about the importance of the country's heritage".
Although looting is often carried out by local residents, it can also be those involved in the
conflict, or by paid professional groups (internal or external), stealing to order See previous refs 45-51).
According to a journalist who left Syria at the end of March65 the Homs Museum was looted
and concerns were expressed for the other museums, although this has not been verified. The
Hama museum was looted last summer: a report on Patrimoine Syrien is dated to 21 July 2011,
(although it was not shared until recently)66 which shows a statue taken from the museum. The
accompanying text and its translation are in Appendix B Details of Stolen Statue. The theft
occurred around 14 July 2011, and according to the report, occurred from inside the museum.
The doors were undamaged, suggesting the museum staff were responsible, as a key would be
required. Due to the blockade in Hama at the time, not all (or possibly no) museum staff were
able to be present that day, and it was this that allowed the theft to occur. A golden Aramaic
statue from the 8th century BC was stolen which has yet to be recovered: it was on Interpols
Most Wanted list in December 2011 (Figure 3). In the interview with Zablit, Sakhel said
antique weaponry was also apparently taken67.
Patrimoine Syrien have also raised concerns68 about the museum of Deir Ez-Zor, the regional
museum in Idlib, and the Museum of al-Numan Maaret . This last was confirmed as having
attacked by the DGAM in a recent statement given to the Syrian Arab News Agency69, and
Patrimoine Syrien have stated that looting has been attempted there several times70.
Most recently the regional museum of Raqqa, Qala'at Jabar Museum, was robbed on the 1st
May, and 17 items were taken, including 7 figurines (three of the goddess Ishtar) and ceramics
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Figure 3: Interpols Most Wanted List (December 2011) (Centre bottom) 71
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dating back to the third millennium BC72. Some of the pieces were from rescue excavations
conducted at sites which are now flooded under the waters of Lake Assad.
According to a report on Lootbusters73, and picked up by Looted Heritage74, the Damascus

Museum has also been looted. However, the picture shown by Lootbusters75 of a statue
apparently taken from the Damascus Museum is identical to that reported stolen from the
Hama museum, suggesting confusion in the accounts. As there is no other report released of
looting at the Damascus Museum, this should be treated with caution.
According to Patrimoine Syrien76, one of the biggest threats to museum collections is the lack of
documentation, which would mean that in the event of theft, it would be impossible to trace the
losses. This is globally recognised as a common problem in museums UNESCO called it a
significant threat77, and the UK organisation FAME highlighted a Storage Crisis78 as vast
excavation archives are accumulated without the resources to adequately document and store
them. Patrimoine Syrien fear that in Syria, only the museum links many of the objects to a site,
and that without adequate documentation, movement in haste will sever any link to a site or
source, leaving the artefacts unprovenanced. In order to protect the collections from looting
and shelling, several museums have apparently been partially emptied and Patrimoine Syrien
have expressed concern about the collections at Der'a, Homs, Hama, Idlib, Ma'aret el-Nu'man,
Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo in particular.
As well as museums, several archaeological sites have been looted, in planned and
opportunistic raids. The Syrian Arab News Agency published an article last year detailing
looting at the site of Apamea: Some saboteurs attacked the guards of those sites and threatened
to kill them if they tried to stop them from committing their crimes79. More details were
released by the Charles Ayoub World Web Portal in January 80: the robbers drilling operations
reached a depths of 2 metres, and mosaics were taken, as well as two capitals of the colonnade
of decumanus81. Apparently the area damaged in the looting exceeds the total area excavated
by the Belgium Archaeological team, who have been excavating since the 1930s. In the
interview, Sakhel (Director of Museums) said the museum of Apamea, which is in the
caravanserai in the town at the base of the site, had also been looted, and a Roman marble
statue taken, and that looting of the site continues at night.
According to the interview, the World Heritage Sites of Crac des Chevaliers82 and Palmyra, and
the Tentative World Heritage Site of Ebla (Tell Mardikh)83 are also subjected to looting. The
looting at Ebla has also been mentioned by the Arabic site Shumaku84 which claims an armed
terrorist group was responsible. According to a statement on Patrimoine Syrien85, the areas
looted and damaged at Palmyra are:
the Camp of Diocletian.
The Valley of the tombs and the tombs of the Southwest and Southeast (Patrimoine
Syriensage-graves or underground tombs).
Triumphal arch and decumanus at colonnades
The areas of the defensive walls South and North.
The edge of the temple of Bel.
It has been suggested that at Palmyra government troops were involved, or at least complicit, as
from their base in the ruins, any looting would theoretically have been visible to them74,
although this cannot be verified.
At Crac des Chevaliers74 looting was anything but clandestine. Jammous, Director-General of
the Antiquities and Museums Department said gunmen broke into the castle, threw out the
staff and began excavations to loot the site.
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In their statement to SANA, the DGAM also said that the Al-Lujat area between Sweida and
Daraa provinces suffered secret excavation operations.86
According to Patrimoine Syrien, a number of other sites are known to have been looted, but no
details of what or how are available. Including those sites already discussed, the list of sites for
which there are reports of looting are:
National Heritage Site Fortress of Shaizar87 (main door fractured, damage to interior,
some objects reported stolen) (confirmed by the DGAM)
Museum - Homs
Museum - Hama
Museum - Apamea
Tentative World Heritage Site - Apamea
Tentative World Heritage Site Ebla (Tell Mardikh)
World Heritage Site - Palmyra
National Heritage Site - Tell Hamoukar88
National Heritage Site - Tell Ashari89
National Heritage Site - Tell Afis90
National Heritage Site - Khan Shiekhoun91
National Heritage Site - Tell charneh92
It should be stressed that these are all substantial sites, and therefore looting is more likely to be
recorded. Looting was already known to be increasing slightly in Syria in peacetime at small
sites (Figures 4 6). At the British Association of Near Eastern Archaeology Conference in 2011,
a paper was presented highlighting the increase in looting between 2003 and 2009 in the north
of Aleppo province, monitored through satellite imagery93 as part of Durham University Land
of Carchemish Project. (Approximately 6 holes are visible in 2003 in Figure 5, and 16 in 2009 on
Figure 6).
Figure 4: Looters hole in Tell Sha'ir, Aleppo Province94

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Figure 5: Looters holes at Khirbet Seraiset (LCP1), Digital Globe Imagery 2003
Figure 6: Looters holes at Khirbet Seraiset (LCP1), Geoeye Panchromatic imagery 2009
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Sakhel commented (paraphrased by Zablit95) that although the practice has been ongoing for
years, the pace has increased as a result of the unrest, which has left many sites unprotected and
inaccessible [to security guards].
In any conflict situation where there is civil unrest, looting, archaeological or otherwise, is
unfortunately a likely outcome. Given looting is increasing, even in peacetime, is highly
probable that looting has occurred elsewhere, at both major and minor sites, but the extent of
the damage done must be assessed, and the true magnitude of what has been lost may never be
known.
The thefts from Hama, and later from Apamea, created some controversy. One Arabic paper
went so far as to suggest that the Syrian government were complicit in the looting96.
Forget the Prime Minister of the system another fact clearly indicates bands of
another kind, practiced sabotage of Antiquities in Syria, nor operating under the
cover of darkness this time, but in broad daylight, with the blessing of the system.
The writer goes on to list a series of damages allegedly perpetuated to sites by Regime forces.
Travel in tanks, Maher Assad, which penetrated the rotor Sbahi in the city of
Hama, where the obsolete columns and points pinned down there the bombing
of the city, Volhakt damaged many of the features of the ancient city, including the
Aramaic Castle? And what says he in the bombing of the mosque (which is built by
the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, when it Patrimoine Syriensed in the
Hauran), time after time, over the heads of the refugees? What about looting the
daily suffering of the Tel al-Ash'ari, a roof and Yarmouk valley Hourani, which is
oldest to the Stone Age? What about the archaeological Alchbih being in Idleb and
Ma'arat Numan and other mountain corner, where the Kingdom of Ebla and Tel
Mardikh (fourth millennium before Christ), and the Byzantine monastery Simbel,
and Roman Deir Sita? What about the random digging, under the nose of the
security services, in the hill site, known in the area of the island, where the city
dating back to 3500 years BC, and archaeologists agree as one of the oldest centers of
urbanization?
I am not surprised that the big artifact stolen a few days after the issuance of
circulating Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the system, in the city of
Hama! The item stolen is a rare golden statue to the Aramaic gods, stolen from
inside the City Museum, where it became clear to investigators that there were no
operations take off the doors of the museum or the breaking of glass, and that the
robber walked into the place freely, and provide him all the time necessary to
remove the statue from its base and move it outside the museum. Security
authorities of criminal rushed to the arrest of the staff of the museum, without
reaching a conclusion, of course, because the thief Cbih was and remains to protect
the pillow Cbihh adults, where no law deters no power to prevent.
How do you do this, or do you dare already, if the points of vandalism, looting
and theft are the same gangs Alchbih working with the men of the system
Patrimoine Syrien issued this statement97 in agreement.
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The government's letter [i.e. the memo] can be viewed as a rather odd document,
since it was released at a time when protest movements were limited. Ahead of
many of the events, she [the minister] anticipates a situation of chaos, a priori
unpredictable at the time. This letter may be interpreted as official carte blanche in
anticipation of future looting, intended in advance to exonerate those who are found
guilty at the highest level.
It is known that the regime itself has organized a market for stolen antiquities,
especially under the leadership of Rifa'at al-Assad. All Syrians know that the port
from which this was operated was Rifa'at Latakia (archaeological looting and other
traffic).
Given the similar events which had previously occurred in Iraq and then in Libya, the
Ministers prediction of a situation of chaos seems reasonable, and the warning and
suggested precautions are sensible. The last decade has also seen a number of improvements in
Syrian heritage management, such as the new museum in Deir Ez-Zor, the redevelopment of
the Damascus museum, and a number of reconstructions designed to protect sites and aid in
their interpretation, for example at Tell Beydar98 and Khirbet al-Batrawy99. The First Lady
herself was responsible for several projects designed to protect and enhance the rich heritage of
the country100, and in 2004 was granted an honorary doctorate from Rome University La
Sapienza in recognition of her role in preserving Syrian heritage101. The laws are strongly in
favour of heritage preservation and carry harsh penalties, and authorities are doing their best to
enforce them. The DGAM employs guards at many sites, and has been active throughout Syria
in their protection and promotion, and recently seized 1300 smuggled artefacts at Tartous102.
Against this background, although the actions of an individual can never be ruled out,
government complicity appears unlikely.
Uncontrolled / Illegal Construction and Demolition

The lack of security and change in law enforcement priorities may also have allowed illegal
demolition and construction works to be undertaken. Uncontrolled development was a risk
noted in several UNESCO documents relating to World Heritage Sites, such as Palmyra and the
Ancient Villages, although the authorities are keen to try and stop it. In the documentation for
the Evaluation of the Ancient Villages World Heritage Site Nomination in 2011, for example:
ICOMOS notes that disorganised growth of small settlements could rapidly

have a negative impact on the propertys landscape and conservation. It has
been announced that a housing development project by a large property
company within the boundary of Park No 3, not far from the major
archaeological site of Sinkhar, was stopped at the last moment.103
A report published by the Global Heritage Fund last year on damage to Syrian sites in peace
time agreed that it was a major threat104. According to a recent statement by the DGAM issued
during the conflict, Bosra in particular has suffered many illegal constructions105. Patrimoine
Syrien have listed areas where they believe illegal construction has commenced106:
In Province Der'a: Tell Ash'ari, in Nawa Hauran; Tell Umm; Tafas, Da'al, ancient city of
Sahm al-Golan, ancient city of Matta'iya, where entire blocks were taken for
new buildings
Many sites in Quneitra province, where local management of DGAMS took advantage
of the situation, in collaboration with the city of Quneitra, to get construction projects in
protected heritage wilderness areas
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In the Limestone Massif, especially in the province of Idlib and that of Aleppo
In the eastern provinces in the area of Jezireh, to Hassakeh, particularly at
o Tell Hamoukar
o Several sites near the Iraqi /Turkish border
Sites in the Deir ez-Zor province, including
o Tell 'Ashara (ancient Terqa) ,
o Tell Sheikh Hamad (ancient Dur Katlimmu)
Some sites of the classical period of the middle valley of the Euphrates, for example
o Raqqa,
o the sites of Sura (el-Hammam),
o Sheikh Hassan
and others for whom we do not yet have direct evidence
Other Damage
In a statement given to the Syrian Arab News Network, The Directorate-General for Antiquities
and Museums said that the world heritage sites in Damascus, Aleppo, Old Bosra, Palmyra,
Citadel of Saladin and Krak des Chevaliers were targeted by the terrorist groups107.
Unfortunately the extent and type of damage is unknown.
A release from Patrimoine Syrien108 stated Ebla (Tell Mardikh) has suffered major damage
when it was turned into a battlefield for the loyalist army against the deserters. This was
picked up by other news networks109, but no further information is available. A similar fate was
suffered by the Middle Acheulean site of Latamn110: the conflict has apparently damaged and
degraded the site, but again no further information is available. (The site is thought to be more
than a million years old, and contains some of the earliest evidence of early human
development and tool use).
Within Hama province, a historic bridge on the Assi River, which connects the towns of Khattab
and Balhasin, has been destroyed111.
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Section 2:
Damaged Sites
For most sites, all that is known of the damage to them is a few lines, often unverified.
However, in some cases, more information is available, and is given (or collated) here.
World Heritage Site - Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

http://ghn.globalheritagefund.org/?id=682
In July 2011 the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria were declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The site consists of 8 archaeological parks (Figure 7) in the Limestone Massif area of Syria,
containing the extremely well preserved remains of a number of Christian Byzantine villages.
These villages, also known as the Dead Cities or Forgotten Cities, were abandoned between the
second and tenth centuries.
According to Michel al-Maqdissi, head of archaeological excavations in Syria,112 of all the

archaeological riches, most at risk is the northern so-called Limestone Massif region that is
home to hundreds of convents, monasteries and ancient churches:
"In my opinion this is the most vulnerable and exposed region right now
because it is outside the direct control of the antiquities department".
The monastery at Deir Sunbel is now also being used to display the Syrian flag, which has been
painted onto it113 (Figure 13), in the same manner of at Bosra114. Tanks have been sighted in the
area115, but the parts known to have been damaged are:
A Roman palace in An Larose was damaged by shelling 116.

Rock shelters at Kafr Nubbel (alt. Kafr Nabo), located in Archaeological Park 2, were
apparently damaged by the Syrian army in their search for deserters 117 (Figure 1).
Deir Sunbel was reportedly damaged by shells according to videos uploaded onto You-
Tube and shared by Patrimoine Syrien 118 (Figures 8 and 9).
Al-Bara, previously a popular tourist destination in the Forgotten Cities, has also been
damaged 119 (Figures 10-12).
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Figure 7: Ancient Villages of Northern Syria - Location of Archaeological Parks
(2000 Landsat Imagery)
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Figure 8: Shelling damage at Deir Sunbel 120
Figure 9: Shelling damage at Deir Sunbel121
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Another video shows damage to a historic building, from shelling or gunfire.
Figure 10 Shelling / gunfire damage to tomb at al-Bara 122
The video never zooms out enough to identify the building for certain, but based on the
architectural similarities visible here, it is most likely to be one of the famous beehive tombs,
perhaps even this one (Latitude 3541'22.13"N, Longitude 3631'39.34"E).
Figure 11: Beehive tomb, al-Bara123
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In this video frame, a man stands in the rubble of a destroyed building, probably at al-Bara,
holding up the remains of a shell which he has just pulled from the rubble.
Figure 12 You-Tube video by local showing shell damage at Al-Bara.124
Figure 13: Syrian flag painted on Deir Sunbal125
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Another video126 at an unknown location in the limestone massif shows what appear to be
ancient ruins pulled down and destroyed or used as road blocks.
Figure 14: Ruins destroyed in Ancient Villages
Figure 15: Ruins perhaps used a road block
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Tentative World Heritage Site:
Apamea and the citadel of Qalat al-Mudiq
Apamea was added to the Tentative World Heritage List in 1999. Previously known as
Pharmake, it was renamed, then fortified and enlarged by Seleucus Nicator in 300BC. Large
parts of the site are unexcavated despite almost 70 years of excavation (Figure 16).
Figure 16: Unexcavated mosaic revealed by visitor erosion127
During the current conflict Apamea has apparently been heavily damaged (see Section 1: p10)
by looters using drills: several mosaics were removed, as well as two column heads and other,
unknown, unexcavated artefacts. The museum based in the caravanserai in the town at the
base of the site has also been looted, and a Roman statue stolen 128.
However, whilst more attention has been paid to the citadel, which has been subjected to
prolonged shelling, a video was released showing shelling of the colonnade for which Apamea
is famous - the main street of the city is 1.85km long, and was originally lined with 1, 200
columns, of which 400 have been restored and re-erected (Figure 17).
Figure 17: The colonnade at Apamea129
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A video uploaded to You-Tube shows a tank shelling the colonnade130. All the following video
stills are from videos which have been collated and shared by Le Patrimoine Syrien.
Figure 18: Tanks shelling the colonnade at Apamea (15 March 2012)
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Another video shows at least two tanks sat in the ruins amid churned earth and rubble.
Although most of it is out of focus, there is damage which may have been caused by the tanks.
It is hard to definitely locate within the site: at one point a building is visible which may be the
caf, locating it at approximately (Latitude 3525'2.74"N Longitude 3624'7.86"E), at the
intersection of the cardo and southern decumanus.
Figure 19: Tank sat in ruins at Apamea131
The citadel of Qalat al-Mudiq was originally the acropolis of the ancient city, but was
destroyed by the Romans in 64BC. Most of what remains is a 12th century Arab fort built by
Nur Ad-Din: Hellenistic masonry is only visible on some of the lower levels. A village has been
built on top of the ruins. Parts of the town around the base of the site date back to the 16th
century. A video132 shows the shelling of the 16th century mosque al-Tawhid in the town, again
taken from the Ottoman caravanserai, described in detail in a later video133, and another
video134 describes the damage in English. According to the DGAM, Masyaf Architectural
Department was also attacked135.
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The citadel itself appears to have been shelled since at least 29 January 2012, when the first
video was uploaded136. A video released the following day showed further shelling, and smoke
and fire coming from the citadel. Numerous other videos have followed137. According to the
Syrian Expatriates Organisation, at the end of March138, the Local Coordination Committee in
Mudiq reported that the southern wall had sustained severe structural damage, which can be
seen in the following pictures.
Figure 20: Shelling damage to citadel (15 March 2012)139
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Videos uploaded at the start of April show tanks at the gates of citadel140, and fire inside 141.
The bulldozers apparently knocked through part of the walls to create an entrance142. The most
recent video shows bulldozers entrenching positions into the side of the mound143. A large
circuit has been dug around the base and major earth moving is being carried out.
Figure 21: Fire inside the citadel (01 April 2012)
Although slightly out of focus, this video frame in Figure 23 shows the damage experienced by
the citadel, and is comparable to Figure 22, which shows the many layers of rebuilding.
According to a local resident144, the house which is just visible on the top is approximately 200
years old.
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Figure 22: Front of Qal'at al-Mudiq145
Figure 23: Damage to Qal'at al-Mudiq after prolonged shellling (26 March 2012) 146
As a result of the damage sustained during the conflict, Apamea and the citadel have been
upgraded to Rescue Needed on the Global Heritage Network.
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World Heritage Site:
Bosra
Bosra was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1980. It was the capital of the Roman
Province of Arabia: the most famous feature is a 2nd century theatre inside the 13th century
Ayyubid fortress, but large parts of the city are well preserved and represent a comingling of
cultures and faiths over a vast time span, which found a unique expression seen rarely, if at all,
elsewhere.
Three videos have been uploaded and shared by Patrimoine Syrien showing fire and bomb
damage to houses147 (Figure 24). As many of the residents live in the ancient ruins, there is no
line between site and the residential area. Another video of demonstrations in Crac des
Chevaliers contains a reference to tanks destroying Bosra148. In a recent call to protect the
heritage of Syria149, Patrimoine Syrien also listed the mosque in Bosra as damaged by shelling.
The mosque was founded in the time of Caliphate of Omar bin Khattab in the seventh century.
The DGAM said the city has also been subjected to illegal constructions, and has been
targeted in attacks150. A city wall has also been painted in national colours during the
protests151, similar to Deir Sunbal (Figure 13).
Figure 24: Photo of a heritage house in the North District, allegedly destroyed by the Syrian military152
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Crac des Chevaliers (alt. Qal al-Hosn)
The two castles of Crac des Chevaliers and Qalat Salah El-Din were jointly designated a World
Heritage Site in 2006, as they are among the most important preserved military castles in the
world. Crac des Chevaliers was originally an Arabic castle, but it is best known as the
stronghold and headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller. Nothing is known about the current
status of Qalat Salah El-Din, but shelling has been recorded at Crac. According to the DGAM,
both Crac des Chevaliers and Qalat Salah El-Din were targeted in attacks153, but nothing more
is known about the extent and type of damage to Qalat Salah El-Din.
A video was released of a peaceful protest at Crac 154, and according to Patrimoine Syrien 155, the
Castle was shelled the next day as a result, followed by
heavy shelling in the whole of the nearby area. Shells and exchanges of fire in
the castle itself than its surroundings as well". [sic]
Several videos of the shelling have been uploaded to You Tube156, but none are close enough to
make out the extent of any damage. Patrimoine Syrien reports157 that in particular, the ancient
mosque in the centre of the citadel, which still retained traces of original paintwork in July 2010,
has been damaged.
The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museum have confirmed that armed gunmen broke
into the castle, evicted the staff and looted it158. As the site is primarily architectural and has no
finds on display, it is unknown what damage has been caused.
The internal conflict in Syria, and resulting damage to this site, has taken on a new, even darker
dimension, as at least one person has used the damage as an opportunity to express religious
hatred. In an anti-Islamic blog Islam versus Europe: Where Islam spreads, freedom dies, the author
suggests the shelling of the World Heritage Site of Crac des Chevaliers was done by Syrian
Savages - Muslims who were apparently destroying the non-Islamic parts of their Patrimoine
Syrient 159.
It would not surprise me if Muslims took advantage of the chaos of conflict

to destroy some of the crusader legacy there. I somehow don't get the
feeling they're going to much put out by the loss of a crusader castle.
As a result of the damage sustained during the conflict, Crac Des Chevaliers has been upgraded
to Rescue Needed on the Global Heritage Network.
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World Heritage Sites:
Damascus and Aleppo
Several reports have been released of explosions in Aleppo and Damascus (see references
Section 1: p10). On 6 January 2012, a suicide bomber caused the death of 26 people in
Damascus, and later twin suicide bomb attacks were targeted at military compounds in the
capital. Three further suicide bombings were reported in Damascus on 17 March 2012, and
others on the 2 April and 27 April. Most recently, car bomb attacks during the early morning
rush hour on the 10 May 2012 killed at least 55 people, and wounded almost 400160, targeting a
military intelligence compound.
Aleppo has also experienced explosions. On 10 February 2012, two bombs, targeted at security
compounds, exploded. Both civilians and military personnel died in the blast. Another
explosion on the 18th March went off between two residential buildings, and hours after a car
bomb was foiled, another explosion went off on the 11 May161.
Damascus and Aleppo are two of the largest cities in the Near East, and both claim the title of
the oldest continuously occupied city in the world, with quite literally thousands of years of
occupational remains, some of go to a depth of 8 feet below the current ground level. The
centres of both are World Heritage Sites, encomPatrimoine Syriensing Roman temples, fabulous
mosques (ancient and modern), Christian shrines and churches, ancient walls, historic souks,
the ancient citadels, many other significant structures, and many ancient historic houses.
According to the DGAM, both World Heritage sites have been targeted in attacks, but no
further information is available162.
Reports of the unrest are largely focussed on the suburbs and strategic targets, such as military
compounds. However, in at least one attack, a nearby park where children were playing
became collateral damage. Although at present there are few reports of historic structures
being affected, collateral damage to historic structures, which are numerous in both cities,
cannot be ruled out. One news report suggests that entire historic neighbourhoods in Aleppo
have been bulldozed, but this has not been verified163.
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Tentative World Heritage Site (and Rest of City):
Hama
The historic town of Hama is a centre for the protests, and as such has been heavily shelled.
Reports from the city are few, and almost none have focussed on the historic sites. The city is
renowned for its norias used for watering the gardens, whichit is claimeddate back to 1100
BC. Though historically used for purpose of irrigation, the 17 norias remaining exist today as an
almost entirely aesthetic traditional show. They were called "the most splendid norias ever
constructed"164 and were submitted as a Tentative World Heritage Site by the Syrian Arab
Republic in June 1999 (Figure 25).
Tanks are known to have been present in Hama since at least August 2011 165, and they are
known to have been near the locations of some of the water wheels. A video released in April166
shows damage from shelling to one of the historic houses in the al-Arbaen quarter, although it
is likely many more are affected. One news report suggests entire historic neighbourhoods
have been bulldozed167, and Patrimoine Syrien reports that the ancient citadel is damaged168. A
video collage shared by Patrimoine Syrien allegedly shows the army poised on the citadel169.
Figure 25: Al-Sihyuniyya And Al-Ga-Bariyya Norias, Hama170
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Homs
There are numerous reports of the shelling of Homs, ancient buildings, mosques, churches and
the ancient souk171 are all heavily damaged, as well as more recent cultural buildings, such as
newer mosques. The residents of Homs want to share the destruction of their town. In one
video, for example, a young man records a long commentary on the damage, naming each
damaged site, and describing what has happened to it172.
The following presents a list of the cultural parts of Homs known to have been damaged.
Mosque Saas Ben Abi Waqas173
Mosque al-Naklhe174
Mosque Qasem al-Atassi minaret of modern shrine destroyed175
Mosque Al-Qussayr minaret destroyed176
Mosque Khab al-Ahbar (alt. la mosque Ka'b al-Ahbar) minaret destroyed177
Mosque al-Nekhla178
Mosque Sheik Kamel Mouqrebi179
Mosque al-Abrar180
Mosque al-Zaferan181
Mosque Khaled Ben al-Walid182
Mosque Mustafa (alt. Moustefa Basha al-Housseyni), Bab al-Turkman183
Mosque Kamel Bacha184
Mosque Abou Der Al-gefary185
Mosque Akhacha in Bab Tadmer, Homs186
Mosque Oumer Al-Nebhani in Bab Tadmer, Homs 187
Church Dar al-selam188
Church of St. Elian Homsi189
Cathedral of Umm el-Zinnar fire damage190 - site may be almost 2000 years old
Monastery of the Jesuit Fathers191
Church El-arbin192
Hammam al-Basha dome destroyed193
The ancient citadel194
Bombardment of the historic quarter of Bostan al-Diwan195
Bombardment of the historic quarters of Bab Houd196, Bab Dreb197, and Bab Turkman198
Historic houses199 (Figure 24)
The ancient souk200 (Figure 25)
Souk al-Hashish201
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Figure 26: Damage to ancient houses in Homs202
Figure 27: Damage to the historic souk203
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Palmyra
In 1980, Palmyra was inscribed on the World Heritage List as one of the most important cities in
ancient Syria. Its location by an oasis in the desert made it an important stop on trade routes as
far back as the second millennium BC. It carried on to be an important Roman, Byzantine and
Islamic town, and although the city fell into disuse in the 16th century, the ruins are still
extremely well preserved, and display a blend of cultures. At the time of their discovery in the
17th and 18th century, they went on to influence the revival in classical architecture. They are
said to have a haunting, magical property, which made them one of the most popular
destinations for tourists in Syria.
Protests were organised in the ruins in December204, and in February a story hit the news about
the Syrian Army occupying the ruins205. According to refugees from the city, it was surrounded
on all sides on February 4th. Security forces set up in the citadel overlooking the town and
Roman ruins, shooting at anything that moved, looking for anti-regime rebels.
Tanks were also deployed near the Roman ruins at the entrance to Palmyra
Although communications with Palmyra were severed at the start of the
campaign, those residents who have managed to get out spoke of daily
machinegun and tank fire.206
Figure 28: View from the Citadel over the ruins207
A further report208 suggested that in the ancient ruins, especially near the burial towers of the
necropolis and near the Great Wall, tanks and heavy weapons have been positioned and
barracks built.
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A statement released by Patrimoine Syrien on 24 February 2012209, and supported by an
interview with the Syrian Director of Museums in April210, suggested that Palmyra is also the
victim of clandestine looting and damage. In particular, Patrimoine Syrien identified the Camp
of Diocletian; the Valley of the tombs and the tombs of the Southwest and Southeast
(Patrimoine Syriensage-graves or underground tombs); Triumphal arch and decumanus at
colonnades; the areas of the defensive walls South and North; and the edge of the temple of Bel
as damaged. According to the reports from the refugees, the army have destroyed and set
ablaze several olive, palm and date groves using tank and machinegun fire. For many people,
those gardens represented their livelihoods, and it may be desperation, rather than
opportunism, which forces them to looting.
National Heritage Site:

Qalat al-Shmemis (alt. Selemiye, Salamyeh)
The exact status of Qalat al-Shmemis (alt. Chteau de Chmmis) is unknown. An Ayyubid fort
dating to 1231, it occupies a prominent position on a mound, and has an artificial ditch
surrounding the walls.
According to reports, loyalist armed tanks were seen heading in the direction of the castle in
February211. A call was issued to UNESCO, or anyone else who may be able to help, reporting
damage to the castle and its environs in February212. Tanks were recorded in this video213
nearby still in March, and local residents told Patrimoine Syrien in a statement that shelters for
tanks were being dug around the base of the citadel214. A later video showed more pictures of
tanks, a military flag flying from the castle, and embankments dug into the side of the hill215
(Figure 30).
Figure 29: Shmemis Castle216
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Figure 30: Embankments in the side of Shmemis Castle209
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Conclusion
This report compiles all available information into one place that was available to me at the time
of writing (16 May 2012). It will not contain all the damage, but nevertheless indicates the
extent and serious nature of the on-going threats to the historic sites sustained during the
conflict. Although Syria has been a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection
of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its First Protocol since 1958, and to the
1972 World Heritage Convention since 1975, all sides are using historic buildings in the conflict,
drawing them into the struggle, while other historic buildings have suffered collateral damage.
As highlighted by Sakhel, the escalation of the conflict over the Patrimoine Syrient year has
made it increasingly difficult for the responsible authorities to protect Syrias archaeological and
cultural heritage.
This report also highlights the concerns that heritage agencies and individuals have raised
regarding the preservation of Syrias Patrimoine Syrient. As well as calling for an end to the
conflict, numerous agencies have begun to call for enhanced protection for the sites, including
the Committee of the Blue Shield, last year and again in April this year217, Archaeological
Institute of America Site Preservation Program218, the Syrian Expatriates Organisation219,
Culture in Development220, the Executive Director of UNESCO221, and The French Institute of
the Near East222. Most recently, on 14 April 2012, Patrimoine Syrien summarised the results of
their information, and issued a further call for aid, citing those sites they felt most in need223:
1 - Cities of the Dead in the Limestone Massif (World Heritage Site)

2 - the citadel of El-Mudiq and surrounding areas and the site of Apamea (Tentative World
Heritage Site)
3 - The city of Palmyra (World Heritage Site)
4 - Archaeological sites of Tell Sheikhoun Khan, Tell Qarqur, Tell Afis, Tell Sheikh Hamad,
Tell Ash'ari and Hamukar in particular;
5 - Places of worship such as al-Omari mosque in the province of Der'a and historic
mosques in the city of Homs.
This was followed by a further call specifically for the protection of museums on the 30th
April224 which was sent to international institutions and the international community more
generally. This appeal highlighted the extent and richness of their collections, but also the lack
of documentation, which would mean that in the event of theft, it would be impossible to trace
the losses.
Despite the ongoing efforts of the DGAM, the damage to Syrias heritage is clearly extensive,
and the full extent will not be understood for years, if ever. World Heritage Sites, national
heritage sites, and small local heritage sites have all been damaged with equal irreverence.
Some of the damage done will be irreparable, some of the items taken irreplaceable, and some
history will be lost or destroyed without ever being known. The cost of repairs, restoration,
reconstruction, and conservation will be high, and Syria will be forced to make tough choices
about what to repair, and what cannot be saved.
The damage extends beyond the purely physical, and is drawn into the moral positions of those
involved, used as tool to justify themselves, or denigrate the opposition. Some of those
involved in the conflict use the damage as an ethical weapon, each side blaming the other, and
claiming it is perpetrated in order to discredit them. Blame is traded, and the conflict becomes
more bitter. This resonates across the wider global community affected by the conflict, inviting
those who might otherwise remain detached to choose sides. It offers those who need little
Page 41 of 55
invitation the opportunity to further inflame the situation, both within Syria and throughout the
world.
The destruction of cultural heritage has been committed (intentionally or otherwise) by those on
all sides of this conflict, whether out of a desire for the protection of strong citadel walls, or in
the hunting of those in opposition to them. Others watch opportunistically from the outside,
and have crept in to steal a heritage which does not belong to them, for a market which seeks
only to profit from the others loss.
In her opinion column in the New York Times, Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO
wrote:
Protecting culture is a security issue. There can be no lasting peace without respect.
Attacks against cultural heritage are attacks against the very identity of communities.
They mark a symbolic and real step up in the escalation of a conflict, leading to
devastation that can be irreparable and whose impact lasts long after the dust has
settled.
Attacks on the Patrimoine Syrient make reconciliation much harder in the future. They
can hold societies back from turning the page toward peace.
So protecting cultural heritage is not a luxury. We cannot leave this for better days,
when tensions have cooled. To lay the ground for peace, we must act now to protect
culture, while tensions are high.225
In the face of the blame, and the hatred, it becomes all the more important to remember those in
Syria who have worked for years to preserve the treasures of the Patrimoine Syrient, and to pay
tribute to those who struggle still to get their messages out, and to protect the heritage of Syria.
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Appendix A Leaked Memo regarding Looting
Figure 31: Leaked memo on Patrimoine Syrien 226
Page 43 of 55
Appendix B Details of Stolen Statue
Figure 32: Details of stolen statue on Patrimoine Syrien 227
Translation (Google Translate):

Page 44 of 55
(Shada ink - special - Damas Post) all began when he sent director of antiquities in
Hama, a letter to the concerned authorities requesting the armored car to move all
valuables at the Museum of Hama National urgently in order to protect them from any
exposure under a state of lawlessness and civil disobedience, which experienced the
city since the third day of this month.
A day later and the only one which I learned on 07/14/2011 of the Ministry of Culture
that the theft took place in the museum, which has not been attack or sabotage the
process over a period of unrest in Hama, in that day while he was Secretary of the
National Museum in his home country in the "Masyaf" stole a golden statue represents
the god of Aramaic is up to the eighth century AD, and studies have shown scientific
value of high, for we know then that our museums are all exposed to abuse and
vandalism, in the context of experiencing the country from the movement disorders and
a wide, Vtv Bosra Sham in the province of a shield closed after he tried some of the
demonstrators assaulted , and the National Museum of Idleb exposure to prevent
violation of the people of the community in the city, except for an event not bad
consequences, according to what reported by the Director of Public museums were
not aware of theft at the Museum of Hama because of its presence outside the
country!
Today we see the Museum of Hama National has stopped all of it starting at:
secretary Rakan Solomon through the guard halls Fayez Hammad and the end of an
observer Museum Abdullah Rahmon, arrested in connection with the ongoing
investigation by the police chief protectors and criminal security, where the charges
affect everyone in the museum, as between A report issued by both sides.
The charge and the charge counter what paints the scene in the museum, Reports of
criminal security proved, according to what the director of antiquities in Hama that
the theft occurred from inside the museum there is no fracture or dislocation of the
doors of the museum and is responsible for the loss of the statue without a doubt are
the museum staff who have the key internal and external, While preliminary
information indicates that there was an hour of the incident and the Director of
Antiquities, another employee at the museum while he was Secretary As noted earlier
in his day were unable to be present in the museum because of the blockade based in
Hama, he said.
Investigations are still ongoing until the moment without knowing the actor is that we
want to ask where the protection is supposed to be present in this circumstance,
especially since the other museums by the Museum of Hama as a shield in the face the
threat of sabotage hour and another hour, what is to blame
Director General of Antiquities and Museums, Dr. Bassam Jamous, answer the
following:
"Protection available by the forces of order and people's committees, but no protection
and theft from within the museum, some people took advantage of the chaos and
lawlessness, and did what he did," he said buffalo that does not charge affects everyone,
including the director of antiquities in Hama and correspondence reveal that,
considering that their work is today facing difficulties especially in the various areas of
tension.
In a related development, former director spoke to the effects of Hama on condition
of anonymity that the theft occurred while not one of the guards present at the museum
because of the security situation in the protectors of the day, however, stopped some of
them, while indicating "buffalo "to corrupt files that stopped the Director previous
Page 45 of 55
work and was referred to trial A charge has the right guidance and he said: "the press
not to hear one side and the fulfillment of February ASK Control Manager in the
Directorate with him and how he was dismissed from his post because he committed
the heinous offense." While another source shows that Buffalo says his words out of
personal grudges.
We cannot at this moment, only Meditation investigations of clean and fair You know
who stole our country's history and cultural heritage, that statue Aramaic coated with
gold, you should not ignore the crime, yes crime and menial that someone stole the
effects of the country is going through the most difficult circumstances, and aims
charges randomly here and there wastes a good Btalh, we demand an impartial
investigation to the incident is not repeated in other museums.
Recalled that years ago was stolen in the Directorate of the effects of Latakia and
formed the day of commissions of inquiry in the matter did not reach the active to the
present day, and also the theft of a statue!!
Page 46 of 55
Appendix C - Notes, Image Accreditations, and Copyright
Please bear in mind that unless otherwise stated, all YouTube videos were shared by Le
Patrimoine Syrien6.
1
19 July 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISMksP0GmNk&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
2 Bokova, UNESCO Media Services 30 March 2012 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-
view/news/director_general_of_unesco_appeals_for_protection_of_syrias_cultural_heritage/ (Accessed 13 April
2012)
3
Bokova, UNESCO Media Services 30 March 2012 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-
view/news/director_general_of_unesco_appeals_for_protection_of_syrias_cultural_heritage/ (Accessed 13 April
2012)
4
Zablit, J. 06 April 2012. Experts sound alarm over Syria archaeological treasures. The Daily Star.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2012/Apr-06/169378-experts-sound-alarm-over-syria-archaeological-
treasures.ashx#ixzz1rL7tZd6a
5 See Appendix B
6 https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne
7 http://globalheritagefund.org/onthewire/
8 http://globalheritagefund.org/gh_network/about
9 https://www.facebook.com/pages/AIA-Site-Preservation-Program/219046209923
10 https://heritage.crowdmap.com/
11 http://www.cultureindevelopment.nl/
12 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecXeUWlbWeU&feature=share (Accessed 14 April 2012)
13 Unnamed source on Patrimoine Syrien. 02 Feb 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed
15 March 2012)
14
Patrimoine Syrien. 14 April 2012. Appel la prservation du patrimoine culturel syrien. http://tinyurl.com/ctaz4sln
(Accessed 15 April 2012)
15 27 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYKPErFAZs8 (Accessed 14 April 2012)
16 11 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juuFkGMuuL8&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
17 11 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.297724436962554.61461.168536393214693&type=1
18 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxD8CSAqp9w&feature=share (Accessed 14 April 2012)
19 07 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFlAS8GnStM&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
20 11 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juuFkGMuuL8&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
21
11 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juuFkGMuuL8&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
22
Uploaded 17 April 2012. Dated 09 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h6tLidf7Po&feature=share
23
24 07 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-bqdCTjQg&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
Asharq al-Asway Paper. 08 March 2012. Archaeological sites pay a price in the process of suppression of the Syrian
Revolution. http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=666038&issueno=12147 (Accessed 15 April 2012)
01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvNSyqU9go8&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
07 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RjZBVAKPQs&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
Aji, A., Karam, Z., and Associated Press. 2012. Syria's cultural treasures latest uprising victim. Fox News. 01 May
2012. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/01/syria-cultural-treasures-latest-uprising-victim/
Also : Voice of Russia. 02 May 2012. http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_05_02/73588875/
The Daily Star. 04 May 2012. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2012/May-04/172259-syrias-cultural-
treasures-the-latest-victim-of-political-unrest.ashx#axzz1uNUVtqBh
Aji, A., Karam, Z., and Associated Press. 2012. Syrias heritage sites damaged. Emirates 24|7 News. 02 May 2012.
http://www.emirates247.com/news/region/syrian-heritage-sites-damaged-2012-05-02-1.456860
Aji, A., Karam, Z., and Associated Press. 2012. Rich artefacts become victims of war. Independent Online. 06 May 2012.
http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/discovery/rich-artefacts-become-victims-of-war-1.1289876
Looted Heritage. 07 May 2012. https://heritage.crowdmap.com/reports/view/341 (All accessed 16 May 2012)
Page 47 of 55
25
26
Patrimoine Syrien. 30 April 2012. Appel la prservation des muses syriens adress aux institutions internationales et
la communaut internationale. http://tinyurl.com/cfuy2vr (Accessed 16 May 2012)
27 Global Heritage Fund: Heritage on the Wire Blog. Syrian Army Attacks Palmyras Roman Ruins. 05 March 2012.
http://globalheritagefund.org/onthewire/blog/palmyras_ruin (Accessed 14 April 2012)

28 AFP. 19 Feb 2012. Syrias ancient desert city besieged: residents. http://www.lepoint.fr/monde/syrie-palmyre-la-cite-
antique-en-etat-de-siege-19-02-2012-1432906_24.php (Accessed 14 April 2012)

29 http://ghn.globalheritagefund.org/?id=1253 (Accessed 14 April 2012)
30 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-VCuJYSI9c&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
31 05 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0mUcfgtslU&feature=share (Accessed 14 April 2012)
32 23 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvSiGUDKv6A&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
33 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cISFzG0cAc&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 10 April 2012)
3426 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwv9XofxKu0&feature=youtu.be
22 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8FruMS1hZM&feature=youtu.be

35 25 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in9DfTwoaMo&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
36 Statement on Patrimoine Syrien website 10 March 2012
37 Statement on Patrimoine Syrien website 11 March 2012
38 26 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8FruMS1hZM&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
39
Patrimoine Syrien. 14 April 2012. Appel la prservation du patrimoine culturel syrien. http://tinyurl.com/ctaz4sln (Accessed 15
April 2012)
40Patrimoine Syrien. 13 March 2012.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=281623548572643&set=a.168560016545664.36383.168536393214693&typ
e=1
41
Press Release. 22 Feb 2012. Deir Mar Musa el-Habashi. http://www.deirmarmusa.org/node/346 (Accessed 15 April 2012)
Patrimoine Syrien. 14 April 2012. Appel la prservation du patrimoine culturel syrien. http://tinyurl.com/ctaz4sln (Accessed 15 April
2012)
42
As above
43
Statement on Patrimoine Syrien. 21 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne?filter=1. (Accessed 23 April
2012)
44
April 2012)
45
As above
46
As above
47
Asharq al-Asway Paper. 08 March 2012. Archaeological sites pay a price in the process of suppression of the Syrian Revolution.
http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&article=666038&issueno=12147 (Accessed 15 April 2012)
48
April 2012)
49
Patrimoine Syrien. 13 March 2012.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=281623548572643&set=a.168560016545664.36383.168536393214693&type=1 (Accessed
15 April 2012)
50 14 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaBoicpCx3g&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
51 Muir, J. 10 Feb 2012. Syria unrest: Aleppo bomb attack kill 28. BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-
middle-east-16978803 (Accessed 13 April 2012)
Associated Press. 18 March 2012. Syrian state news agency: explosion in Aleppo. Yahoo! News.
http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-state-news-agency-explosion-aleppo-120001675.html (Accessed 13 April 2012)
Huffington Post UK. 18 March 2012. Syria Uprising: Car Bomb Hits Aleppo One Day After Massive Damascus Explosion.
Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/18/car-bomb-explosion-aleppo-syria_n_1356570.html
52 27 Jan 2012. Report of the Head of the League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria for the period from 24 Dec
2011 to 18 Jan 2012. "League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria"

http://www.innercitypress.com/LASomSyria.pdf. (Accessed 14 April 2012)
53 Bandarin, F. (ed). 2007. World Heritage: Challenges for the Millennium. Paris: UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Brodie, N, & Renfrew, C. 2005. Looting and the Worlds Archaeological Heritage: the Inadequate Response. Annual
Reviews of Anthropology, 34: 343-61.
Global Heritage Fund. 2012. Saving Our Vanishing Heritage. Palo Alto: Global Heritage Fund: p23
Looted Heritage - https://heritage.crowdmap.com/main
Snedeker, R. J., and Harmon, M. A. 2000. Archeological Vandalism in the Southeastern National Forests
http://www.nps.gov/seac/coping/6-sne-har.htm in Ehrenhard, J. (ed). Coping with Site Looting: Southeastern
Perspectives. http://www.nps.gov/seac/coping/index.htm (Accessed 14 April 2012)
SRE. 28 June 2010. Mexico Expresses its Concern with the Increased Looting and Sale of Pre-Columbian Artefacts.
http://portal3.sre.gob.mx/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=630&Itemid=9 (Accessed 14
April 2012)
Page 48 of 55
54
Brodie, N, & Renfrew, C. 2005. Looting and the Worlds Archaeological Heritage: the Inadequate Response.
Annual Reviews of Anthropology, 34: 343-61
55
Brodie, N, & Renfrew, C. 2005. Looting and the Worlds Archaeological Heritage: the Inadequate Response.
Annual Reviews of Anthropology, 34: 343-61
Stone, P. & Farchakh Bajjaly, J. eds. 2008. The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Iraq. Suffolk: Boydell Press
Ghaidan, U and Al-Dabbagh, N. 2005. Heritage at Risk, ICOMOS World Report 2004/5 on monuments and sites in danger.
(eds Truscott, M, Petzet, M and Ziesmer, J) K.G Saur, Munchen
56 Emberling, G. & Hans, K. 2008. Catastrophe!: the looting and destruction of Iraq's Patrimoine Syrient. Chicago Ill:
Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago

Stone, E. 2008. Patterns of looting in southern Iraq. Antiquity 82: 125-138
Stone, P. & Farchakh Bajjaly, J. eds. 2008. The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Iraq. Suffolk: Boydell Press
Global Heritage Fund. 2012. Saving Our Vanishing Heritage. Palo Alto: Global Heritage Fund: p23
57 Harding, L. 2003. Mosul Descends Into Chaos as Even Museum is Looted. The Guardian, 12 April 2003.
http://www.ccmep.org/2003_articles/Iraq/041203_mosul_descends_into_chaos_as_eve.htm (Accessed 09 Nov

2011)
Wright, H.T., Wilkinson, T.J., and M. Gibson. 2003. The National Geographic Societys Cultural Assessment.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0611_030611_iraqlootingreport.html (Accessed 09 Nov 2011)
Pollock, S. 2005. Archaeology Goes to War at the Newsstand. In S. Pollock & R. Bernbeck. 2005. Archaeologies of the
Middle East: Critical Perspectives. Oxford; Malden, Mass: Blackwell Publications, 78-96
58 Baker, Matthews, R and Postgate, J. 1993. Lost Heritage: Antiquities Stolen From Iraqs Regional Museums. Fascicle 2.
London: British School of Archaeology in Iraq in http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/IRAQ/lh2.pdf (Accessed 13 April 2012)

Baker, R., Ismael, S and Ismael, T. 2010. Cultural Cleansing in Iraq: Why Museums Were Looted, Libraries Burned and
Academics Murdered. Macmillan/ Pluto Press
59
Emberling, G. & Hans, K. 2008. Catastrophe!: the looting and destruction of Iraq's Patrimoine Syrient. Chicago Ill:
Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago
60 Bajjalay, J. 11 March 2011. Gangs Eyeing Syrian Antiquities. Alakhbar English. http://english.al-
akhbar.com/content/gangs-eyeing-syrian-antiquities (Accessed 14 March 2012) (or in Arabic - http://www.al-

akhbar.com/node/45056)
Nord On Art. 19 March 2012. http://nordonart.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/disturbing-headline-gangs-eyeing-
syrian-antiquities/ (Accessed 04 April 2012)
Looted Heritage website report. 20 March 2012. https://heritage.crowdmap.com/reports/view/205 (Accessed 21
March 2012)
Global Heritage Fund Heritage on the Wire blog. 21 Feb 2012.
http://globalheritagefund.org/onthewire/blog/looting_in_syria (Accessed 21 March 2012)
Popular Archaeology. March 2012. http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/march-2012/article/leaked-government-
memo-warns-of-organized-looting-in-syria (Accessed 30 March 2012)
61 Arabic to French, courtesy of Patrimoine Syrien; French to English through Google Translate
62 06 Sept 2011, and again on 08 Nov 2011
63 Zablit, J. 06 April 2012. Experts sound alarm over Syria archaeological treasures. The Daily Star.
64 Zablit, J. 05 April 2012. Looters tear up Syria's archeological treasures. Archaeology News Network. April 2012.
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/looters-tear-up-syria-archeological.html
6565Original Report of looting at Homs Museum from University of Chicago Iraq Crisis mailing list. 02 march 2012.
https://lists.uchicago.edu/web/arc/iraqcrisis/2012-03/msg00000.html (Accessed 14 April 2012)

Looted heritage report on possible looting of Homs Museum. 04 March 2012.
https://heritage.crowdmap.com/reports/view/134 (Accessed 14 April 2012)
66 http://tinyurl.com/bl6of76 (Accessed 14 April 2012)
68
69
Nassr, N. and Eyon, M. 2012. Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums: World Heritage Sites in Syria Suffered
Attacks by Terrorists. SANA. 02 April 2012. http://www.sana.sy/eng/28/2012/04/02/409870.htm (Accessed 20
April 2012)
70
Patrimoine Syrien. 30 April 2012. Appel la prservation des muses syriens adress aux institutions internationales et
la communaut internationale. http://tinyurl.com/cfuy2vr (Accessed 16 May 2012)
Page 49 of 55
71 http://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Works-of-art/Posters (Accessed 13 April 2012)
72 Makki, H. 2012. Theft of goddess Ishtar and 16 pieces from the Museum Jabar in Raqqa. Alraddar News. 09 May
2012. http://www.alraddar.com/ar-sy/NewsView/85/7100/default.aspx
Mjhar (?) News. 2012. http://www.mjhar.com/ar-sy/NewsView/812/40538.aspx (Both accessed 16 May 2012)
73 Lootbusters. 2011. http://www.lootbusters.com/index.html (Accessed 14 April 2012)
74Looted Heritage. 03 March 2012. https://heritage.crowdmap.com/reports/view/122 (Accessed 14 April 2012)
75 http://www.lootbusters.com/DamascusMissing.html (Accessed 14 April 2012)
76 Patrimoine Syrien. 30 April 2012. Appel la prservation des muses syriens adress aux institutions internationales et la
communaut internationale. http://tinyurl.com/cfuy2vr (Accessed 16 May 2012)

77 Hayashi, N., and UNESCO. 2009. Documentation of Museum Collections. 08 December 2009.
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=40045&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
(Accessed 16 May 2012)
78
FAME. 2012. FAME highlights storage crisis. http://www.famearchaeology.co.uk/2010/11/fame-highlights-
storage-crisis/ (Accessed 16 May 2012)
79 Sabbagh, H. 20 09 2011. Archeological Sites in Ancient City of Apamea Vandalized and Pillaged. SANA.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/09/20/370499.htm (Accessed 14 April 2012)

80 Charles Ayoub World Web Portal. 17 01 2012. http://diyar.charlesayoub.com/index.php/article-details/103574

81
82 Aji, A., Karam, Z., and Associated Press. 2012. Syria's cultural treasures latest uprising victim. Fox News. 01 May
83 http://ghn.globalheritagefund.org/?id=686
84 Shumaku. 12 Feb 2012. http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=41631 (Accessed 14 April 2012)
85 Patrimoine Syrien. 24 Feb 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 10 April 2012)
86
April 2012)
87 Nassr, N. and Eyon, M. 2012. Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums: World Heritage Sites in Syria Suffered
Attacks by Terrorists. SANA. 02 April 2012. http://www.sana.sy/eng/28/2012/04/02/409870.htm

Patrimoine Syrien. 16 Feb 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Both accessed 10 April 2012)
88 Patrimoine Syrien. 29 Aug 2011.
e=1 (Accessed 10 April 2012)
89 Patrimoine Syrien. 29 Aug 2011.
90 Patrimoine Syrien. 11 March 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 10 April 2012).
(NB: the damage to Tell Afis is only theorised by Patrimoine Syrien, as soldiers have set up camp at the base of the
site, and Patrimoine Syrien expects looting to occur as a result.)
91 Patrimoine Syrien. 10 March 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 10 April 2012)
92 Patrimoine Syrien. 04 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 10 April 2012).
According to Patrimoine Syrien, eye witnesses say Tell charneh has recently been the victim of illegal digging and
looting.
93 Cunliffe, E. 08 Jan 2011. Satellite Imagery and Site Damage in the Land of Carchemish. Paper given at BANEA
Conference 2011.
94
July 2010. Photograph copyright E. Cunliffe
95
Zablit, J. 05 April 2012. Looters tear up Syria's archeological treasures. Archaeology News Network. April 2012.
http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/looters-tear-up-syria-archeological.html (Accessed 14
April 2012)
96 Al-Quds Al-Arabi 2011-09-11 (I apologise to the author of the article, whose name I cannot transliterate)
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today\11qpt998.htm&arc=data\2011\09\09-11\11qpt998.htm
(Accessed 14 April 2012) (Translated through Google Translate)
97
(Accessed 15 April 2012) (Translation from the French via Google Translate)
Page 50 of 55
98 Stnvit, M. E. 2007. Deux campagnes de restauration architectural Tell Beydar / Nabada (automne 2003,
printemps 2004). In Lebeau, M, and Sleiman, A. Subartu 15: Tell Beydar : the 2000-2002 seasons of excavations, the 2003-
2004 seasons of architectural restoration : a preliminary report. Turnhout: Brepols. 255-309
99 Nigro, L. 2008. Khirbet al-Batrawy II: the EB II city-gate, the EB II-III fortifications, the EB II-III temple: preliminary report
of the second (2006) and third (2007) seasons of excavations. Roma: Universit di Roma "La Sapienza"
100 SEBC Press Release. 02 April 2012. The Syrian Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC) Supports the General Directorate
of Antiquities and Museums http://www.sebcsyria.com/web2008/art.php?art_id=1935&ViewMode=Print (accessed

14 April 2012)
101 Syrian History. http://www.syrianhistory.com/view-photo/2311/First+Lady+Asma+al-
Assad+receiving+an+honorary+PhD+from+Rome+University+La+Sapienza+in+2004/syrian+first+ladies (Accessed
14 April 2012)
102
19 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS_Zi5dlsmo&feature=shar (Accessed 23 April 2012)
21 April 2012 http://www.shukumaku.com/Content.php?id=45396 (accessed 23 April 2012)
103
ICOMOS. 2011. 2011 Evaluations of Nominations of Cultural and Mixed Properties to the World Heritage List. ICOMOS
Report for the World Heritage Committee, 35th ordinary session UNESCO, June 2011. P119.
104
Cunliffe, E. 2011. Syria: Patrimoine Syrient, Present and Preservation. Palo Alto: Global Heritage Fund.
http://ghn.globalheritagefund.com/uploads/documents/document_1910.pdf (Accessed 15 April 2012)
105
April 2012)
106
107
April 2012)
108 Statement on Patrimoine Syrien. 25 April 2012. (Accessed 25 April 2012)
109
110 Statement on Patrimoine Syrien. 08 May 2012. (Accessed 16 May 2012)
111 Uruknet.info. 11 May 2012. http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m87996&hd=&size=1&l=e (Accessed 16 May 2012)
112 In interview with Zablit, J. 05 April 2012. Looters tear up Syria's archeological treasures. Archaeology News
Network. April 2012. http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/looters-tear-up-syria-

archeological.html (Accessed 10 April 2012)
113 21 April 2012 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6QsOwSea7w&feature=share%27%2C%9 (Accessed 09 May
2012)
114
15 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FqUFT957GMo.
115
Tanks in the limestone massif. 19 April 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QLpN-e6kOB4 (Accessed 23 April 2012)
116 Patrimoine Syrien. 10 March 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 10 April 2012)
117 Patrimoine Syrien. 13 March 2012
e=1
118 30 Dec 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6hbFcUYNzA&feature=youtu.be* (Accessed 03 April 2012)
29 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDG-XAY0C30&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 03 April 2012)

21 April 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6QsOwSea7w&feature=share%27%2C%9 (Accessed 09 05 2012)
119 Videos uploaded to You Tube and shared through Patrimoine Syrien (All accessed 14 April 2012):
19 July 2011. (Video says Serjilla. There are no orchards of this scale at Serjilla looks like al-Bara.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISMksP0GmNk&feature=youtu.be
28 Oct 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKSsKI65g5w&feature=related
20 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXAKSRQl5YM&feature=youtu.be
120 29 March 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDG-XAY0C30&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
121 29 March 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6hbFcUYNzA&feature=youtu.be* (Accessed 14 April 2012)
122 28 Oct 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKSsKI65g5w&feature=related (Accessed 14 April 2012)
Page 51 of 55
123
124 19 July 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISMksP0GmNk&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
125
09 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QLpN-e6kOB4 (Accessed 23
April 2012)
126 28 Oct 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY7i6ljcbIQ&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
127 July 2010. Photograph copyright E. Cunliffe

128 Sabbagh, H. 20 09 2011. Archeological Sites in Ancient City of Apamea Vandalized and Pillaged. SANA.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/09/20/370499.htm (Accessed 14 April 2012)
Charles Ayoub World Web Portal. 17 Jan 2012. http://diyar.charlesayoub.com/index.php/article-details/103574
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130 Video dated 15 March 2012, uploaded 28 March 2012, accessed 14 April 2012.
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131 20 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qayBWj3Bcrk&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
132 26 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m17tXjxd-9s&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
28 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH7Fk3AqG_4&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)

133 8 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH7Fk3AqG_4&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
135
April 2012)
136 29 Jan 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu2_wjpHE8s&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
137 30 Jan 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdqRIPGqYBU&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
20 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4fz_LsmKnE&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)

24 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDG6wWNsWcU&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
26 March 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svldcFo2Scw&context=C4770dc9ADvjVQa1PpcFOuO5RNNfg6XK7Ujqp4Df68
ybY-RYBcdOk%3D
138
Rasha Othman. 28 March 2012. Syrian Expatriates Organization Reports that Syrias Ancient Sites and Antiquities in
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ancient-sites-antiquities-143021795.html (Accessed 15 04 2012)
139 15 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X73f6U6AWg (Accessed 14 April 2012)
140 01 April 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-VCuJYSI9c&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
141 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAWSePXTHyQ&feature=share (Accessed 14 April 2012)
142
143 05 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0mUcfgtslU&feature=share (Accessed 14 April 2012)
145
146 25 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSWt4k_k0pE&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
147 26 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1QHC8T6qgU&feature=youtu.be,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4pO4VwIXVo&feature=youtu.be,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJfxCYQjjao&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 08 April 2012)
149 Patrimoine Syrien. 14 April 2012. Appel la prservation du patrimoine culturel syrien.
http://tinyurl.com/ctaz4sln/299307640137567 (Accessed 15 April 2012)

150
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151 15 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FqUFT957GMo (Accessed 23
April 2012)
152
Photo by an activist. Shared by Patrimoine Syrien. 10 March 2012.
https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne?filter=1
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153
April 2012)
155 24 March 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 14 April 2012)
156 20 March 2012 (location uncertain, attributed to Crac des Chevaliers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM5pSpISfwg&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)

25 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7tbwKIrHE (Accessed 14 April 2012)
157
158
159
Zakalwe, C. 04 April 2012. Are Syrian Savages Destroying Crusader Castles?
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160 Plett, B. 2012. Syria Unrest: UN condemns Damascus suicide blasts. BBC News. 11 May 2012.
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161 BBC News. 11 May 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18043334 (Accessed 16 May 2012)
162
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163
164 Needham and Ronan, 1995. The Shorter Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 5, Cambridge University Press,
p.281
165 08 Aug 2011
166 01 April 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IboQyUHw2uM&feature=share (Accessed 14 April 2012)
167
168
169 Uploaded 13 April 2012. Video collage dates are 01 Dec 2012, 20 March 2012, 12 April 2012 and 02 April 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go57vC6VZD4&feature=share. (Accessed 23 April 2012)

170 Photo taken June 201. Copyright E Cunliffe
171 26 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIJ27hHEvzk&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
22 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYqt7pnoxZA&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)

172 03 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlxHXYGFCbQ&feature=share. (Accessed 15 April 2012)
173 22 March 2012. (Accessed 10 April 2012) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRohHjfOGK0&feature=youtu.be
174 27 March 2012. (Accessed 10 April 2012) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St1JMWsMFqQ&feature=share
175 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9SLTzYc8NU&feature=share (Accessed 10 April 2012)
176 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nlDaucl1gg&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 10 April 2012)
177 25 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPNNz_Gci64&feature=youtu.be
31 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtNBuyE4iOo (Accessed 11 April 2012)

182 01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxSn6Z4wskI&feature=share (Accessed 15 April 2012)
14 April 2012 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn4BZ4xwnl4. (Shared 28 April 2012, accessed 09 May 2012)

Page 53 of 55
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Uploaded 27 April 2012. Dates in video 23 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y79lS9DD0lw (accessed
09 May 2012)
184 02 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lgWkQcU3a0 (Accessed 15 April 2012)
185 19 April 2012 photos -
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303618016373196.62368.168536393214693&type=1
(dated 19 April 2012 and 28 March 2012, uploaded 19 April 2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXPhfJv45c&feature=youtu.be (Both accessed 23 April 2012)
186
19 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303819343019730.62422.168536393214693&type=1
187 14 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.305441242857540.62817.168536393214693&type=1.

189
190
26 Feb 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqXGIrV68rU&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 14 April 2012)
193 07 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=F9va3sFR5iA (Accessed 11 April
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194
195 25 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6v_kwD5RvM&feature=youtu.be. (Accessed 11 April 2012)
196 29 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exW4PL4L6ao&feature=youtu.be
01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTuJLepHuIE&feature=youtu.be

197
23 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.306078789460452.62929.168536393214693&type=1
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198 23 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hauDobphOAM&feature=share%27%2C%29
(Accessed 09 05 2012)
199 28 March 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11R58eoLRZ0&feature=youtu.be.
01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD9fwIo6rkQ&feature=youtu.be

02 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOR7qXmhXQ
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200 07 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRB9c72boTQ&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 15 April 2012)
29 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y16QqGWIkDQ&feature=share (Accessed 11 April 2012)

01 April 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fXBoZKYOw0&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 15 April 2012)
01 April 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac6GgIKU8D0&feature=share (Accessed 11 April 2012)
06 May 2012
e=1 (Accessed 09 May 2012)
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202 06 April 2012. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.294592537275744.60794.168536393214693&type=1

203 01 April 2012. (Accessed 11 April 2012) / 23 April 2012, (Accessed 23 April 2012), respectively.
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205 Le Point.fr. 19 Feb 2012. Syrie: Palmyre, la cit antique en tat de sige.
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English Translation AFP. 19 02 2012. Syrias ancient desert city besieged: residents.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ghsGRtLMbmOQoX9scJ95o2Q6fy6g?docId=CNG.845ffb
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antique-en-etat-de-siege-19-02-2012-1432906_24.php (Accessed 14 April 2012)

207 Copyright Wikimedia Commons
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209 https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne
211 26 Feb 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwv9XofxKu0&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 29 March 2012)
212 Statement on Patrimoine Syrien. 21 02 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 05
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213 22 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8FruMS1hZM&feature=youtu.be (accessed 25 March 2012)
214 Statement on Patrimoine Syrien. 25 03 2012. https://www.facebook.com/Archeologie.syrienne (Accessed 01
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215 27 April 2012 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9Mlbv7DHPc&feature=share. (Shared 28 April 2012,
accessed 09 May 2012)

216 September 2009. Photograph Copyright: Wikimedia Commons
217
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218 12 March 2012. http://www.archaeological.org/news/advocacy/8534
16 April 2012 http://www.ifla.org/en/news/blue-shield-2nd-statement-on-syria (Accessed 15 April 2012)

219 Rasha Othman. 28 March 2012. Syrian Expatriates Organization Reports that Syrias Ancient Sites and Antiquities in
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ancient-sites-antiquities-143021795.html (Accessed 15 April 2012)
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223
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DAMAGE TO THE SOUL:

Emma Cunliffe, Durham University, and

Section 2: Damaged Sites ....................................................................................................................... 20

Appendix A Leaked Memo regarding Looting ................................................................................ 43

Appendix B Details of Stolen Statue .................................................................................................. 44

Appendix C - Notes, Image Accreditations, and Copyright.............................................................. 47

Following various media reports of damage, Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO,

Information Sources and Copyright

Sites known to have been affected by the shelling are:

Sites probably affected by the shelling are:

Figure 1: Damaged rock shelter, Kafr Nubbel49

An approximate translation61 is:

Attention: Mr. Minister of Communications and Technology

We received the following information:

Please strengthen security measures by installing new security doors, alarm

Mr. Prime Minister

An anonymous statement published on Patrimoine Syrien 62 suggested the Syrian authorities

According to a report on Lootbusters73, and picked up by Looted Heritage74, the Damascus

Figure 4: Looters hole in Tell Sha'ir, Aleppo Province94

Patrimoine Syrien issued this statement97 in agreement.

Uncontrolled / Illegal Construction and Demolition

ICOMOS notes that disorganised growth of small settlements could rapidly

World Heritage Site - Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

According to Michel al-Maqdissi, head of archaeological excavations in Syria,112 of all the

A Roman palace in An Larose was damaged by shelling 116.

Figure 9: Shelling damage at Deir Sunbel121

Figure 10 Shelling / gunfire damage to tomb at al-Bara 122

Figure 11: Beehive tomb, al-Bara123

Figure 12 You-Tube video by local showing shell damage at Al-Bara.124

Figure 13: Syrian flag painted on Deir Sunbal125

Figure 14: Ruins destroyed in Ancient Villages

Figure 15: Ruins perhaps used a road block

Figure 16: Unexcavated mosaic revealed by visitor erosion127

Figure 17: The colonnade at Apamea129

Figure 19: Tank sat in ruins at Apamea131

Figure 20: Shelling damage to citadel (15 March 2012)139

Figure 21: Fire inside the citadel (01 April 2012)

It would not surprise me if Muslims took advantage of the chaos of conflict

Figure 25: Al-Sihyuniyya And Al-Ga-Bariyya Norias, Hama170

Figure 27: Damage to the historic souk203

Figure 28: View from the Citadel over the ruins207

National Heritage Site:

Figure 29: Shmemis Castle216

1 - Cities of the Dead in the Limestone Massif (World Heritage Site)

Figure 31: Leaked memo on Patrimoine Syrien 226

Figure 32: Details of stolen statue on Patrimoine Syrien 227

Translation (Google Translate):

http://globalheritagefund.org/onthewire/blog/palmyras_ruin (Accessed 14 April 2012)

antique-en-etat-de-siege-19-02-2012-1432906_24.php (Accessed 14 April 2012)

22 March 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8FruMS1hZM&feature=youtu.be

2011 to 18 Jan 2012. "League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria"

Oriental Institute Museum of the University of Chicago

http://www.ccmep.org/2003_articles/Iraq/041203_mosul_descends_into_chaos_as_eve.htm (Accessed 09 Nov

London: British School of Archaeology in Iraq in http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/IRAQ/lh2.pdf (Accessed 13 April 2012)

akhbar.com/content/gangs-eyeing-syrian-antiquities (Accessed 14 March 2012) (or in Arabic - http://www.al-

https://lists.uchicago.edu/web/arc/iraqcrisis/2012-03/msg00000.html (Accessed 14 April 2012)

communaut internationale. http://tinyurl.com/cfuy2vr (Accessed 16 May 2012)

http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/09/20/370499.htm (Accessed 14 April 2012)

(Accessed 14 April 2012)

Attacks by Terrorists. SANA. 02 April 2012. http://www.sana.sy/eng/28/2012/04/02/409870.htm

of Antiquities and Museums http://www.sebcsyria.com/web2008/art.php?art_id=1935&ViewMode=Print (accessed

Network. April 2012. http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/looters-tear-up-syria-

29 March 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDG-XAY0C30&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 03 April 2012)